13 Days, Family O' 7 $2642 Budget!

[TNKBELL]

I just may take you up on that. I'll also double check and make sure Wendy's is still doing this during the summer.

That would be great!! Thank you!

 

[dopeyfanatic]

I seriously have to give you Kudos for being able to do this. It's very inspiring and I have no doubt you can do it. I'm going to use some of your ideas for our trip next year. We're staying at Vistana Resort and plan on doing breakfast in our room (which will be pretty cheap), bringing some lunches in, and doing probably half our dinners back at our room. There will be 16 of us going, so our meals will be things like tacos and spaghetti so it's easy to make a lot and really cheap. We'll be lucky that way. I saw a lot of comments on the chicken. I think what is perplexing some people is that I took the rotisserie chicken as being a pre cooked one from the grocery store which are typically small and don't even feed my family of 5, not buying one and doing it yourself. I do have big eaters though. My kids grow REALLY fast so they are frequently going through growth spurts. My 3 year old daughter even ate a double cheeseburger today by herself! My boys are frequently like that too. Nobody is over weight and we don't eat out often. Today was a treat because my oldest son won outstanding citizen at school today. We do eat at McDonald's for around $10 for all 5 of us, if not a little less. I'm very curious to find out how much, or what, you bring with you from home. And what do you buy when you get there, and where do you shop. Coming from CA we can't take too much on the plane, but I will bring some stuff. I'm very excited to read your report. I'm going to have to read your old one!

 

[ogreenlee]

We're going in September for free dining, and only four nights on site. We're already up to $1200 just for that and our tickets. That doesn't include gas from Atlanta and back, and the two nights spent outside the resort. And heck.. I thought that was pretty good considering the amount saved by not spending it on food... for the most part!

 

[kinntj]

I'm so impressed with your budget plans for your vacation. Even though we couldn't get that low for 7 days, I've learned to cut down our souvie and food spending while we're there. That'll help save money for our next trip we plan.

Have fun! It sounds like just being away from home with your family is vacation enough.

 

[TNKBELL]

I'm so impressed with your budget plans for your vacation. Even though we couldn't get that low for 7 days, I've learned to cut down our souvie and food spending while we're there. That'll help save money for our next trip we plan.

Have fun! It sounds like just being away from home with your family is vacation enough.

SOOO True!!! I would be happy just going to a Florida resort and just staying onsite relaxing by the pool, taking walks, resort activities and chilling on the balcony, not to mention, we only have basic cable at home, so to the Dks, vacation with the Disney channel and Nick are one of the many perks and Dh and I love HGTV.. we come home with so many new ideas for our home!! It's the combination of little things that surmount to ONE great vacation!!! Getting to go to Disney is like icing on the cake!

 

[mamaloya]

I used to be more frugal, but now that we make more money, I have gotten lazy. When I try to set a budget, my dh says "just relax and enjoy it". I have to say I like not cooking on vacation. Our last nondisney vacation (dh said we had to take one or we could not go back to WDW), I went WAY overbudget. We are still feeling that pain. I did not plan well enough.

We did do a disney vacation one year for under $500. That was with only 4 kids (the older 2 went elsewhere). This was about 3 yrs ago. We tent camped at FW, used unused days from years past tix, only ate 2 meals in the parks and cooked the rest at our campsite. We were only there 5 days. Gas was also only about $1.50 a gallon. dh was pastoring a church at the time and, before our trip, many of the members gave us love offerings and tons of snack type foods to bring with us. It was such a blessing.

We did our splurge trip last year doing the DDP and staying for close to 2 wks. That was a once in a lifetime trip. It was around $4500 for 8 of us (baby was only 2 though) including gas and souvenirs.

We now plan on $3000 total budget for 9 days including everything. But dd19 is married. We keep it low by camping at FW, only now we have a camper. The only meal we it in though is breakfast. We may do dinner in the day we go to AK though. I really want to take a vacation too, so don't want to cook. Like I said, I have gotten lazier.

BTW, our food budget is $150 per week but includes diapers, pullups, pet food, paper towels and cleaners. Although, diapers are now in the past as dd4 has finally decided to use the potty!!!

 

[Andrea from PA]

OMG -- I could never imagine an Orlando Vacation for so little $!

We are going to WDW in Dec (see my ticker!), but I bought Universal passes & am trying to figure out how to afford a US vacation within the next 18 months too!

You have provided tremedous inspiration!

I can't wait for trip report!

Hey as a Home School exercise do you think one of your kids can write a report? I think it would be a positive for those of us with kids who are brainwashed every moment must be in an amusement park

 

[TNKBELL]

OMG -- I could never imagine an Orlando Vacation for so little $!

We are going to WDW in Dec (see my ticker!), but I bought Universal passes & am trying to figure out how to afford a US vacation within the next 18 months too!

You have provided tremedous inspiration!

I can't wait for trip report!

Hey as a Home School exercise do you think one of your kids can write a report? I think it would be a positive for those of us with kids who are brainwashed every moment must be in an amusement park

Thank you, you all keep me inspired constantly and help keep me accountable!!!

My plan is to have the Dks keep a journal of our trip. I'll include quotes from thier perspective when I post my report.

 

[disneymom3]

TNK--that would be really fun to read from the kids. I am always amazed at what the things my kids remember are or what things they list as their favorites. Our last trip it was hands down unanimous that their favorite activity was minigolf. (Which DH and I decided about half way through we should not have paid to play--we just should have gone with the kids--cheaper!!) The trip before that the most favorite activity was riding the surrey bikes at the Boardwalk. Someone tell me again why I buy park tickets!

 

[pigget74]

Where in Kansas are you? I ask because starting October 1, Allegiant will be flying direct from Wichita to Orlando for $79 per person/one way.

Now, I have a LOT more of this thread to read...

~B

This airline does not land at MCO so you cannot do Magical Express. It lands in Standford or Sanford, Florida----a cab to disney from there is close to $100.

 

[TNKBELL]

Ok, I have called some dealerships around town and most of them don't rent cars and the ones that do, charge more than what our current reservation does and has limited miles. I think since we'll be putting over 3000 miles on, that might be problematic for dealerships, especially if it's a newer vehicle that would interfere with a mileage warranty. But I'm certainly willing to research any good suggestions, Thank you!!

 

[Praise God]

My friends tease me and call me frugal, but you definitely have me beat by a long shot!!!
I was quite proud of myself for staying onsite at SSR, and with the accommodations, airfare and 7 day non expiring tickets for 2 of us for under just over $1100. But now it doesn't seem so impressive.
I have done some very low budget vacations in the past after getting divorced, but I am glad that I don't have to do that anymore. I do still use my coupons and love those $10 Kohls coupons which have netted me free socks and tshirts for my son. I also still frequent goodwill for his uniforms etc. Doing those things allows me the freedom to decide whether or not to cook on vacation. (Can't make up my mind about the Disney Dining plan or not)
I used to be good about not eating out a lot, but have gotten lazy. This has provided great incentive to get back on track.
I am determined to be debt free and the only thing between me and that goal is this mortgage, so I am trimming back so that I can pay extra on it.
God Bless you!

 

[THE-ELLA'SMOM]

The entertainment book has a $25 off weekly rental for the minivan. I reserved a mini-van for 2 weeks in Nov thru Costco they quoted me $601.40 and then I was able to apply the $25 coupon, I could send you the code if you are interested.

 

[bnsilly]

As some of you know I was freaking out about feeding my family for under $100 a day at WDW, etc...but WE DID IT! Easily...
First...let me add..gas from Texas to Orlando ran about $275 each way..I kept a tally...now about food...
We ate breakfast in the room, we took things like bagels, muffins, etc..
for snacks we made our own trail mix, that the kids always LOVE!! as do I..(honey nut cheerios, m&m's, planter salted peanuts, and pretzel sticks).
We also took things like granola bars, which were lifesavers in the parks for fending off hunger!
We only ate out one meal a day in the parks..(well mostly in the park, or at the food court, and one day we went outside the park to eat and was in the same pricerange as the food court.
Here is a tip: at the tomorrowland cafe, it is called something Roy's..they have a "fixings station"..it has lettuce, tomatoes, onions, sauteed mushrooms, etc..and it was YUMMY! I was trying to eat low carb, so I got a grilled chicken breast, and ate lots of mushrooms, tomatoes, etc...
We basically had our breakfast, snacks mid am that we brought, then ate a lunch/dinner around 3pm and then snacks again in the early evening...
Just wanted to thank you all for your help and know that it can be done!!

 

[TNKBELL]

As some of you know I was freaking out about feeding my family for under $100 a day at WDW, etc...but WE DID IT! Easily...
First...let me add..gas from Texas to Orlando ran about $275 each way..I kept a tally...now about food...
We ate breakfast in the room, we took things like bagels, muffins, etc..
for snacks we made our own trail mix, that the kids always LOVE!! as do I..(honey nut cheerios, m&m's, planter salted peanuts, and pretzel sticks).
We also took things like granola bars, which were lifesavers in the parks for fending off hunger!
We only ate out one meal a day in the parks..(well mostly in the park, or at the food court, and one day we went outside the park to eat and was in the same pricerange as the food court.
Here is a tip: at the tomorrowland cafe, it is called something Roy's..they have a "fixings station"..it has lettuce, tomatoes, onions, sauteed mushrooms, etc..and it was YUMMY! I was trying to eat low carb, so I got a grilled chicken breast, and ate lots of mushrooms, tomatoes, etc...
We basically had our breakfast, snacks mid am that we brought, then ate a lunch/dinner around 3pm and then snacks again in the early evening...
Just wanted to thank you all for your help and know that it can be done!!

AWESOME!!!!

 

[TNKBELL]

THE-ELLA'S MOM Thank you for the code for Budget!! I called and Deja vue occurred and I remembered that 2 years ago they told me the code does not work for our location(any of them in the city) and the same happened this year. Oh well, I think it's still a good rate. Thank you for your effort!!

 

[TNKBELL]

My DB who works for Hertz was able to get us a rate of $555.32 a savings of $51 YAY!!! Every little bit helps.

 

[faindrops27]

TNKBELL. You are a SuperMom, truly. I wish I could budget as well!

 

[jcemom]

I haven't read through this entire thread yet, but I will. I just wanted to say, WOW! Kudos to you TNK!!

I wish I could get you to overhaul our spending, LOL. We are a family of 5 -- me, DH, DS 14, DS 13, and DD 4 -- and I cannont get my grocery budget under $120/week. We don't even eat as good as I'd like because I feel as if I'm always buying the cheapest foods which aren't always the healthiest. Obviously I'm doing something wrong because you're feeding two more kids than I am and you're doing it for $45/week less, LOL.

I think I need to read every post you've ever made.

 

[TNKBELL]

TNKBELL. You are a SuperMom, truly. I wish I could budget as well!

Thank you, but I'm not worthy!! I stumble all the time!!

Some more money for our trip.....I sold some of my clothes at a Woman's consignment shop and will pick up my first check tonight!! It's only $15.00 so far but every little bit helps!!